- you ita maitai nuee (superlatively bad).«
    »Paddle away with ye,« roared Jermin in a rage; »be off! or I 'll dart a
harpoon at ye!«
    But, instead of obeying the order, Jim, seizing his paddle, darted the canoe
right up to the gangway, and, in two bounds, stood on deck. Pulling a greasy
silk handkerchief still lower over his brow, and improving the sit of his
frock-coat with a vigorous jerk, he then strode up to the mate; and, in a more
flowery style than ever, gave him to understand that the redoubtable Jim himself
was before him; that the ship was his until the anchor was down; and he should
like to hear what anyone had to say to it.
    As there now seemed little doubt that he was all he claimed to be, the Julia
was at last surrendered.
    Our gentleman now proceeded to bring us to an anchor, jumping up between the
knight-heads, and bawling out »Luff! luff! keepy off! keepy off!« and insisting
upon each time being respectfully responded to by the man at the helm. At this
time our steerage-way was almost gone; and yet, in giving his orders, the
passionate old man made as much fuss as a white squall aboard the Flying
Dutchman.
    Jim turned out to be the regular pilot of the harbour; a post, be it known,
of no small profit; and, in his eyes, at least, invested with immense
importance.11 Our unceremonious entrance, therefore, was regarded as highly
insulting, and tending to depreciate both the dignity and lucrativeness of his
office.
    The old man is something of a wizard. Having an understanding with the
elements, certain phenomena of theirs are exhibited for his particular benefit.
Unusually clear weather, with a fine steady breeze, is a certain sign that a
merchantman is at hand; whale-spouts seen from the harbour are tokens of a
whaling vessel's approach; and thunder and lightning, happening so seldom as
they do, are proof positive that a man-of-war is drawing near.
    In short, Jim, the pilot, is quite a character in his way; and no one visits
Tahiti without hearing some curious story about him.
 

                                 Chapter XXVII

             A Glance at Papeetee - We Are Sent Aboard the Frigate

The village of Papeetee struck us all very pleasantly. Lying in a semicircle
round the bay, the tasteful mansions of the chiefs and foreign residents impart
an air of tropical elegance, heightened by the palm-trees waving here